Orthodontic appliance



Nov. 9 1926. 1,606,550

P. N. WILLIAMS ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCE Filed July 14. 1925 INVENTOR ATTORMF vq Patented Nov. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATESE PERCY NORMAN WILLIAMS, 0F PELHAM MANOR, NEVF YORK.

ORTHODONTIC AYPLIANCE.

Application filed July 14, 1925. Serial No. 43,459.

This invention is a device adapted for use in imparting the desired form to the arch wire employed in correcting faulty positioning or irregularity out the teeth. In orthodontic work it is common practice to secure the ends oi'- a curved wire to certain of the molars and to connect the teeth to be straightened to the intermediate part of the wire. The wire is first bent to conform to the original contour of the teeth, and is removed from time to time and bent to change its form to more nearly the desired symmetrical curvature. Each time the wire is replaced it exerts pressure on the teeth which requires straightening and they are eventually brought to proper alignment. It is a difficult task requiring great skill and experience to bend the wire to exactly the right amount and in exactly the right place each time it is removed in order to apply the proper pressure to the desired teeth with the minimum inconvenience or pain to the patient.

The main object of my invention is to provide a device by means of which the form or shape of this arch wire may be properly adjusted from time to time to bring it eventually to the proper curavture while maintaining at each adjustment the desired spacing between the ends of the wire depending upon the width of the jaw of the patient.

In the accompanying drawings T have illustrated one embodiment of my invention. In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view on a larger scale and partly in section, and

Fig. i is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

In the construction illustrated there is provided a body including two relatively movable sections 10 and 11 with means for controlling and effecting a movement toward and from each other. As shown, the member 11 has a pair of parallel guide pins 12 mounted to slide in passages in the member 10 so as to prevent any other relative movement of the two sections except a straightline movement toward and from each other. For effecting this movement the member 10 is provided with an adjusting screw 13 which has threaded connections with the member 11 and is rotatable in but held against longitudinal movement in respect to the member 10. The means for preventing endwise movement of the adjusting screw in the member 10 may be of any suitable character, as for instance a pin 14 disposed in an annular groove in the adjusting screw. The outer end of the adjusting screw is provided with any suitable form of knob r handle 15 by means of which the screw may be rotated and the two members or body sections 10 and 11 positively moved toward and from each other. One of the members, for instance the member 10, has means for holding the ends of an arch wire while the other member, for instance the member 11, has means for forcing the intermediate portion of the arch wire outwardly. in respect to the end supports to apply tension or stretching force on the wire. The supports for the ends of the arch wire are preferably a pair of pins 16 in alignment with each other and projecting outw rdly from opposite sides of the mem-.

ber 10. These pins are provided with any suitable means for attaching the ends of the arch wire thereto, as for instance they are slotted so that the wire may be slipped into the slots and held against endwise movement by adjusting nuts or stops on the wire. The pins are adjustable endwise in respect to each other, so as to bring the wire attaching parts to the desired distance apart. The distance between the attaching parts on the pin 16 should correspond to the width of the jaw of the patient, and therefore the pins are adjustable to give different widths and are calibrated so that the operator may readily secure any desired width. For in stance, each pin may be provided with a series of annular grooves 17 into which the ends of locking pins 18 maybe extended. By removing the locking pins 18 the wireretaining pins 16 may be moved in and out to give the desired spacing, and upon resetting the loclring pins the wire-retaining pins are held against endwise movement, but are free to rotate. The spacing of the grooves may be according to any desired scale, so that the operator may ascertain the distance between the ends of the arch-wire by ascertaining the particular grooves in which the locking pins 18 are inserted. The locking pins preferably have threaded engagen'ient in the wall of the member 10 above the openings for the pins 16 so that they will remain in the adjusted position.

The member 11 has means for engaging with the parts of the arch wire intermediate for instance as some asbestos composition,

and so connected to the member 11 as to permit of its ready removal and replacement by a similar block of different form. The block has a curved front edge, the radius of curvature being selected in accordance with the distance between the ends of the arch wire. For instance, for adjusting a wire for a person having a widejaw, the pins 16 should be separated to the desired distance and a block 19 selected which has the corresponding radius of curvature. The apparatus is preferably provided with a series of the blocks 19 which are interchangeable and of different curvature, although the user of the apparatus may provide these blocks himself and cut or mold them to whatever shape he wishes.

For detachably securing the block 19 to the member 11 the latter is provided with a pair of upstanding pins 20 adapted to enter recesses in the block to prevent any lateral movement of the block in respect to the m'ember, and the block has a threaded clamping screw 21 extending through the block 19 with a shoulder for engaging the upper surface of the block so as to tightly clamp the block in place.

The body of the apparatus may be supported in any suitable manner or may be permitted to rest directly upon the table or other support. Preferably it is so mounted that it may be tilted to the most convenient angle for the application of a blowpipe or heating flame to the portion of the wire extending along the curved surface of the block 19. Asshown, the member 10 has a depending lug 22 pivotally mounted in the upper end of a standard 23, carried by a base 24. The pivot pin is in the form of a clamping screw with a knob or handle 25 whereby the body of the apparatus may be tilted and clamped at the desired angle.

In the use of my improved apparatus an arch wire such for instance as the wire A shown in the drawing, is bent by hand to give it the proper curvature so as to follow the irregularities of the teeth and extend from one molar along the front teeth to a molar onthe other side. This is secured in position by suitable clamps or connections to certain or all of the teeth. Upon removal of the wire, the apparatus is adjusted by moving the pins or wire connections 16 in or out to give thedesired spacing in ac cordance with the width of the jaw, and a block 19 is selected with the desired curvature. The arch wire is secured to the pins 16 and the adjusting screw 18 is operated to force the block 19 against the intermediate portion of the wire to put the latter slightly under tension, and thus tend to slightly straighten out the irregularities in the wire which were caused by bending the latter to follow irregularities of the teeth. The intermediate portion of the wire is then heated to cause it to take a permanent set in the slightly stretched condition, and the wire is replaced in the mouth. At the proper intervals the wire is removed and again slightly stretched until finally it takes the symmetrical curved line indicated in the drawing. Each time it is replaced it exerts a pressure on the irregular teeth, tending to bring them more nearly to the desired position.

A single apparatus may be used fora large number of patients as the orthodontist may record the adjustment of the pins 16, the block 19 by means of some indication on the latter, and the adjustment of the members 10 and 11 toward and from each other so that-the apparatus may be properly set for each patient. Preferably the member 10 is provided with a scale on the side thereof and the member 11 has a pointer terminating adjacent to the scale, so that any desired adjustment of the members in respect to each other may be readily secured. One of the pins 12 may be calibrated so that the relative adjustment may be determined by noting the extent to which the pin extends into the member 11.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An orthodontic appliance. including a pair of members. one having means for attaching thereto the ends of an arch wire, and the other having part of refractory material presenting a curved surface for engaging with the intermediate portion of a wire, and means for adjusting said members toward and from each other for causing said wire to more nearly follow the contour of said surface.

2. An orthodontic appliance including a pair of members adjustable toward and from each other, one of said members having means for attaching thereto the ends of an arch wire, and the other having adetachable block of refractory material adapted for engagement with the intermediate portion of the wire and into engagement with which said portion may be forced.

3. An orthodontic appliance including a member having a pair ofpins upon opposite sides thereof and adjustable toward and from each other, said pins being adapted for the attachment thereto of the ends of an arch wire, and a second member adjustable toward and from the first mentioned member fit) and having means for engaging with the intermediate portion of the wire.

4:. An orthodontic appliance including a member having a pair of pins upon opposite sides thereof and adjustable toward and from each other, said pins being adapted for the attachment thereto of the ends of an arch wire, and a second member adjustable toward and from the first mention-ed member and having a detachable block of refractory material presenting a curved surface adapted to engage with the intermediate portion of the wire.

5. An orthodontic appliance including a member having a pair of pins upon opposite sides thereof and adjustable toward and from each other, said pins being adapted for the attachment thereto of the ends of an arch wire, a refractory block for engagement with the intermediate portion of the Wire, and means for adjusting said block toward and from said member 6. An orthodontic appliance including a pair of members, one having a pin slidably engaging with the other member, said members having an adjusting screw threaded to one member and rotatably supported and held against longitudinal movement in respect to the other member, one of said members having means for securing thereto the ends of an arch wire at varying distances apart, and the other of said members having means for applying pressure to the intermediate portion of the wire and presenting a curved surface of a curvature dependent upon the distance between the ends of the arch wires.

7. An ortl'lodontic appliance including a pair of members one having a pin slidably engaging within the other member, said members having an adjusting screw thread-- ed to one member and rotatably supported and held against longitudinal movement in respect to the other member, one of said members having a pair of pins extending outwardly from opposite sides and endwise adjustable and adapted for the attachment thereto of the ends of an arch wire, and the other of said members having a refractory block detachably secured thereto and presenting a curved surface, said block being movable toward and from the axis of said pins upon the rotation of said adjusting screws.

8. An orthodontic appliance including a member having a pair of apertures in opposite sides thereof, a pair of pins disposed within said apertures and each having a series of circumferential grooves, locking pins carried by said members and extending into said apertures for holding said pins against endwise movement but permitting rotation thereof, the outer ends of said pins being provided with means for attaching thereto the ends of an arch wire, and means adjustably connected to said member for engaging with the intermediate portion of the arch wire to stretch thelatter.

9. An orthodontic appliance including a.

member having a pair of apertures in opposite sides thereof, a pair of pins disposed within said apertures and each having a series of circumferential grooves, hocking pins carried by said members and extending into said apertures for holding said pins against endwise movementv but permitting rotation thereof, the outer ends of said pins being provided withmeans for attaching thereto the ends of an arch wire, and a second member adjustable toward and from the first member, and having a refractory block presenting a curved surface for engaging with the intermediate portion of the arch wire.

Signed at Ithaca in the county of Tompkins and State of New York this 11th day of July A. D. 1925.

PERCY NORMAN WILLIAMS. 

